PINCH MY SALT

Jack Johnson joins Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan on the Pinch My Salt Podcast for a hilarious, wide-ranging conversation about surfing, music, Hawaii, Kelly Slater, Tom Curren, John John Florence, Willie Nelson, Ben Harper, G. Love, Rob Machado, songwriting, touring, fame and the stories behind some of Jack Johnson’s biggest songs.

Jack Johnson talks about the real story behind “Banana Pancakes,” “Bubble Toes” and “Rodeo Clowns,” his early music career, opening for Ben Harper, growing up surfing in Hawaii, the North Shore surf scene, and how Kelly Slater helped turn “Rodeo Clowns” into the name of a surfing maneuver. Jack also breaks down Kelly Slater vs. Tom Curren, explains why he believes John John Florence may be the best surfer in the world, and talks Nathan Fletcher, Christian Fletcher, Rob Machado, Pipeline, Sunset Beach, big-wave surfing and the surfers who influenced him.

Plus, Jack plays music live in the Pinch My Salt studio and tells the incredible story of playing poker with Willie Nelson.

This is Jack Johnson like you probably haven’t heard him before.

Jack gets into the story of meeting Willie Nelson at a benefit concert in Maui, getting invited back to Willie’s house to play poker, and the song that came out of the experience. He talks about forgetting lyrics and hitting wrong chords on stage, why those mistakes can actually make live music better, and how he learned to deal with the pressure of performing in front of huge crowds.

Jack also opens up about fame, imposter syndrome, mental health, staying grounded in Hawaii, and why too much attention can start to feel unhealthy. He explains how Ben Harper and G. Love inspired him before he ever knew them personally, and what it was like going from being a fan to opening shows for Ben Harper.

We also get into the surprising story behind Jack Johnson’s Curious George soundtrack, working on the film with Hans Zimmer, and why making music for an animated kids movie felt like such a strange move within surf culture at the time.

Then it gets DEEP into surfing.

Kelly Slater vs. Tom Curren. John John Florence. Dane Reynolds. Nathan Fletcher. Christian Fletcher. Rob Machado. Pipeline. Sunset. Margaret River. Surf style vs. progression. What makes someone truly “core.” And Jack’s perspective as someone who grew up completely immersed in the North Shore surf world before becoming one of the biggest musicians in the world.

Jack also talks about his wife Kim, writing love songs, balancing marriage and success, raising a family, touring, his Surf Film Music project, September Sessions, and the work he and Kim do through the Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation and its environmental education programs in Hawaii.

And somehow we also try to launch Jack Johnson’s new phrases “That’s What the Babies Eat” and “Rumpelstiltskin It” into surf culture.

This one went places.

Welcome back to PINCH MY SALT with Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan.

Subscribe for more conversations with the biggest names in surfing, music, action sports and surf culture.

#JackJohnson #PinchMySalt #Surfing #KellySlater #JohnJohnFlorence #TomCurren #BananaPancakes #SurfPodcast #WillieNelson #BenHarper #NorthShore #Hawaii #SurfCulture
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Why is everyone mad at Kolohe Andino? This week on Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan break down the Kolohe Andino drama, the backlash inside surf culture, his comments about the modern surf industry, and why some surfers are questioning the former Target and Nike-sponsored pro surfer’s new direction. We get into Kolohe Andino’s surf film, the criticism that it was heavily inspired by an older Joe G. surf movie, the “core lord” complaints Sterling says started coming in, and the bigger question: can a surfer who benefited from huge mainstream sponsorships now criticize what surfing has become?From Kolohe Andino, Target, Nike and surf industry politics to Tom Curren, Kelly Slater, Jamie O’Brien, John John Florence, Dane Reynolds, surf brands, pro surfer sponsorships, surf films, surf media, vlogging and the loss of mystery in surfing, this episode gets into what “core” even means anymore. Sterling and Ryan debate whether Kolohe is being hypocritical, whether the surf world is being too hard on him, and whether he’s actually one of the few surfers trying to bring creativity, style and real surf culture back.The boys also get into Tom Curren’s legendary surf aura, why so many modern pro surfers feel overly branded, the rise (and possible death) of the term “core lord,” Gen Z surf culture, social media algorithms, surfing vlog content, and whether pro surfers should control their own careers instead of relying completely on surf brands.Then things go completely off the rails.Sterling discovers he may be becoming the Tony Hawk of surfing, the guys talk Kelly Slater, Jack Johnson, Reddit, John John Florence, Florence, Former, Outerknown, starting their own surf brand, and why the modern surf industry looks completely different from the Billabong-era surf world they grew up in.Later, Sterling gets surprisingly deep about growing up as a traveling pro surfer, spending years chasing waves around the world, the brutal Gulf Coast summer flat spell, and watching surfers constantly chase swell from Hawaii to Indonesia, Tahiti and Fiji. The conversation turns toward Nathan Florence, surf travel, getting older as a surfer, Sterling’s brain injury, fatherhood, grief, forgiveness and learning how to actually slow down.Basically: Kolohe Andino drama, surf industry politics, core lords, surf brands, pro surfing, surf culture, questionable life advice and two cousins trying to figure out if surfing has completely lost the plot.Subscribe to Pinch My Salt for weekly surf news, surf culture, surfing stories, pro surfer interviews, comedy and the important conversations nobody else in surfing is brave—or dumb—enough to have.#KoloheAndino #Surfing #SurfCulture #SurfPodcast #PinchMySalt
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Brad Gerlach joins Pinch My Salt to break down Kelly Slater at Teahupo’o, the wild WSL Tahiti contest, Seth Moniz’s huge win, Felipe Toledo in heavy surf, big-wave surfing, surf competition, judging, surf technique and what really separates the best surfers in the world. Brad Gerlach — former world #1 and world title runner-up — gives his perspective on Kelly Slater’s brutal Teahupo’o wipeouts, how Kelly adjusted his technique, changed boards and went straight back into some of the heaviest waves of the event.SUPPORT THE SHOW!!!! https://ebay.io/m/KjQ3nxWe get into Kelly Slater surfing at 54, Teahupo’o, Tahiti surfing, WSL competition, Seth Moniz, Felipe Toledo, Pipeline, big-wave surfing, professional surfing, surfboard design, Firewire surfboards, competitive surfing and surf coaching. Brad also shares stories from competing against a young Kelly Slater, including beating Kelly after Slater dropped a 10-point ride, and explains why Kelly’s ability to adapt in dangerous waves is still on another level.Brad Gerlach has spent decades studying surfing at the highest level. From Tom Curren, Dane Reynolds and Michael Peterson to today’s WSL surfers, Brad breaks down style, technique, creativity, confidence and why surfing should be judged as more than just athletic performance.We also talk about the controversial side of competitive surfing: judging, commentary, wave selection, commitment at Teahupo’o, Felipe Toledo in heavy waves, Seth Moniz’s underdog Tahiti victory, and whether professional surfing is properly explaining what the world’s best surfers are actually doing.Brad also takes us inside Wave Ki, his surf training program, where he studies footage and teaches surfers how body position, foot placement, confidence and creativity can completely change the way they surf.PLUS: Kelly Slater’s surfboards spark a debate after his broken board appears to have a stringer, leading to a conversation about Firewire surfboards, custom surfboards and what Kelly is actually riding.If you love Kelly Slater, Teahupo’o, Tahiti surfing, WSL, surf podcasts, professional surfing, big-wave surfing, Pipeline, surf history, surf technique, surf coaching, competitive surfing, Dane Reynolds, Tom Curren, Seth Moniz, Felipe Toledo or just hearing surf legends talk honestly about surfing — this episode is for you.Comment below: What was the craziest moment from Teahupo’o?Subscribe to Pinch My Salt for more surf stories, surf news, legendary surfers, WSL discussion, surf history and ridiculous conversations with Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan.#KellySlater #BradGerlach #Surfing
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Jamie O’Brien, Pipeline, Pipe Masters, core surfing, Catch Surf, soft-top surfboards, surf culture, YouTube surfing, Red Bull, North Shore Hawaii, Backdoor, Ben Gravy, Jack Johnson, Rob Machado, Kelly Slater and the future of the surf industry — this episode of Pinch My Salt goes straight into one of the biggest debates in modern surfing: what does it actually mean to be a “core surfer” anymore?Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan react to Jamie O’Brien’s comments about sponsored surfers, being core, chasing swells, making money in surfing and the evolution of his career from Pipeline legend and self-produced surf movies to YouTube, vlogging and the Catch Surf soft-top era. They debate whether surf YouTube and soft tops helped grow surfing or changed surf culture for the worse, how JOB influenced the next generation of surf creators, why traditional surfboard design still matters, and whether the surf industry has traded progression, style and craftsmanship for clicks, viral videos and easy money.The boys also get into Jack Johnson trying to connect them with Jason Momoa, Rob Machado’s legendary hair, Kelly Slater, surf-industry sycophants, Instagram surfer culture, old-school surf fights at Lowers and Trestles, surfboard design, environmental concerns around foam and soft-top surfboards, and why surfing still needs to protect the magic that made everyone fall in love with it in the first place.Jamie O’Brien has been one of the most influential surfers of his generation — from Pipeline and Backdoor to his early self-produced surf films, DVDs, viral surfing videos and massive YouTube career. But has the rise of surf influencers, vlogging, soft tops and viral content changed what being a professional surfer means?Sterling also tells the story of surfing Backdoor with Jamie years ago and trying to convince him that the future was the internet — while Jamie was still making money selling surf DVDs.Plus: hardboards vs soft tops, Catch Surf, Ben Gravy, Blair Conklin, surfboard progression, old-school surf culture, North Shore stories, surfing fights, growing up in surf shops, the future of surfing, keeping surfing core and the eternal question:Can you make money in surfing without selling out?Welcome to Pinch My Salt.👇 LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS:What actually makes someone a CORE surfer?And have soft tops been good or bad for surf culture?SUBSCRIBE for weekly surf stories, surf news, surf history, pro surfer interviews, comedy, surfing debates and completely unnecessary investigations into the surf world.SEARCH TOPICS:Jamie O’Brien, Jamie O'Brien podcast, JOB surfing, Jamie O’Brien Pipeline, Jamie O’Brien Pipe Masters, Pipeline surfing, Backdoor surfing, North Shore Hawaii surfing, core surfing, core surfer, surf culture, surf industry, professional surfing, pro surfer, surfing podcast, surf podcast, surf YouTube, surfing YouTube, Catch Surf, soft top surfboard, soft top surfing, foam surfboard, Ben Gravy, Blair Conklin, Jack Johnson surfing, Rob Machado, Kelly Slater, Jason Momoa, surfboard design, surfing history, surf movies, Pipeline surfers, Hawaii surfing, surf influencers, surf vlog, surf industry podcast, surf comedy, Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer.#Surfing #JamieOBrien #PinchMySalt
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Kelly Slater, surf etiquette, women in surfing, Blue Crush, Nathan Florence, Jamie O’Brien, Dane Reynolds, the US Open of Surfing, surf culture, surf controversy, and the future of professional surfing all collide in this episode of Pinch My Salt with Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan.We break down the viral “paddle harder” surfing controversy and Kelly Slater’s response, debate whether surf lineups care more about gender or skill level, and talk surf etiquette, beginner surfers, kook levels, women’s surfing, and what actually earns respect in the water. Then Sterling goes deep on Blue Crush, Kate Bosworth, the movie’s surf stunt doubles, Hawaii, Sunset Beach, and why Blue Crush may have done more to push surfing into mainstream culture than pro surfers ever realized.Bid on the Signed photo!!!!! https://ebay.io/m/GuSMwaFrom there, we get into Nathan Florence, John John Florence, Jamie O’Brien, Dane Reynolds, Andy Irons, YouTube surfing, surf vlogs, surf media, old-school surf movies, Taylor Steele, Surf Madness, and how social media changed what it means to be a famous surfer. Plus: New Smyrna Beach sharks, surfing while pregnant, Tony Hawk, Herbie Fletcher, foiling, Huntington Beach, the US Open of Surfing, big-wave surfing, and the eternal question: how core is too core?Sterling also tells the story of jumping from traditional surf media into the early internet era, his experience with Taylor Steele and Intersection, and why giving away a surf movie for free helped change the old surf-video model. We debate whether surfers like Nathan Florence and Jamie O’Brien have become more recognizable to the mainstream than traditional professional surfers — and whether YouTube, podcasts, vlogs, Instagram and social media are now more important than contests and surf magazines.Also in this episode: relationship and marriage comedy, Sterling’s completely scientific method for “figuring women out,” controlled burns, surfing while pregnant, Brody Jenner, New Smyrna shark encounters, Mason Ho, Herbie Fletcher, kook levels, surf fashion, soft tops, the “core surfer” spectrum, selling out without losing your soul, and whether the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach is somehow harder to watch than foil boarding.Pinch My Salt is a surfing and comedy podcast hosted by professional surfer Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan, covering surf culture, professional surfing, surf news, surf history, surf industry stories, WSL, surf personalities, internet culture, relationships, comedy and everything weird happening in and around surfing.COMMENT BELOW: Is surfing about gender — or is it really just about skill and kook level?Subscribe for new episodes of Pinch My Salt.#Surfing #KellySlater #PinchMySalt
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